sorting paperwork.
Deep joy.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Pictures from WW1
My grandmother was a doctor in WW1, first in Leith and then in France. I've scanned some pages from an album she kept. All done by her patients.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I think a lawyer's trying to steal my aunt's estate
Obviously I can't go into details here but I'm seriously worried.
Monday, August 13, 2007
This could be expensive
My car's in for a MOT and major service and I was expecting a bill of £300-£400. But there's an additional £200 for broken shock absorbers, £50+ for a tyre, and the gearbox is leaking. That last could be majorly expensive, just when I don't need to be spending money.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
So I went to bed at 03:30
Almost dawn!
Anyway, I'd finished watching Cliffhanger on the TV and went to check my email before going to bed. And shortly thereafter felt slighty nauseous and smelled gas. So I went round the house and checked everything. I hadn't left the oven on or anything. But the smell was still there. And outside. So I rang Transco and we went through the usual palaver. An engineer duly arrived at about 02:30 and found nothing. But the smell had gone. He left a bit after 03:00
We reckoned it was fuel - or something else - dumped by an aircraft.
Still, going to bed at that hour is not fun. I must be getting old...
Anyway, I'd finished watching Cliffhanger on the TV and went to check my email before going to bed. And shortly thereafter felt slighty nauseous and smelled gas. So I went round the house and checked everything. I hadn't left the oven on or anything. But the smell was still there. And outside. So I rang Transco and we went through the usual palaver. An engineer duly arrived at about 02:30 and found nothing. But the smell had gone. He left a bit after 03:00
We reckoned it was fuel - or something else - dumped by an aircraft.
Still, going to bed at that hour is not fun. I must be getting old...
Monday, July 02, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Pub review: Rose & Crown, Kew
I was on my way home last night and in need of a pint and some food. As I was driving through Kew, I spotted the Rose & Crown. A nice pub by the green. There was plenty of parking around the green.
I ordered a pint and a mixed grill - at £13, very expensive - from a very helpful barman and settled to a seat by a window overlooking the green. Earlier in the day it would have been a lovely view.
The pub was very quiet. Too quiet, really, for that time of night.
The food seemed a long time in coming, but I had a newspaper to occupy me, and when it came, I was pleased to see a generous platter. Chips, two sausages, steak, ham steak, two eggs. Tartare sauce was supplied without demur. In a proper pot too, not a little packet. The food was great, except the chef needs to learn that a steak ordered rare is not cooked well done. I was too hungry to complain too much - the steak was still good.
I'd go there again.
I ordered a pint and a mixed grill - at £13, very expensive - from a very helpful barman and settled to a seat by a window overlooking the green. Earlier in the day it would have been a lovely view.
The pub was very quiet. Too quiet, really, for that time of night.
The food seemed a long time in coming, but I had a newspaper to occupy me, and when it came, I was pleased to see a generous platter. Chips, two sausages, steak, ham steak, two eggs. Tartare sauce was supplied without demur. In a proper pot too, not a little packet. The food was great, except the chef needs to learn that a steak ordered rare is not cooked well done. I was too hungry to complain too much - the steak was still good.
I'd go there again.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Busy with the builders
The builders have finally turned up - they were due last week but were delayed due to the weather. Not their fault, and I've allowed for the delay. They've been doing the edging of the patio, which crumbled over the winter. This time, it's being done with engineering bricks. More expensive, but they'll last.
The skip's due tomorrow and I don't think I'll have too much trouble filling it.
It's a good thing I was prudent and put the money aside some time ago.
The delay has meant that I've not been to my aunt's house for a while. There's just so much to do there.
The skip's due tomorrow and I don't think I'll have too much trouble filling it.
It's a good thing I was prudent and put the money aside some time ago.
The delay has meant that I've not been to my aunt's house for a while. There's just so much to do there.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Roebuck and the New Inn
After a hard and very boring but profitable day's work on Richmond Hill, I needed some food. The Roebuck was the nearest and they had a decent menu - steak and ale pie would have hit the spot nicely - but they don't sell draught cider, so I walked straight out. I used to take my aunt to the New Inn on Ham Common for a good feed - they have a nice garden - so I went there. It's been over a year - if not two - since I visited and they've changed owners and the food has gone downhill significantly. Both in quality and range. My scampi and chips wasn't bad but it was decidedly average.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Busy, busy.
Got to prep my house for sale, and clean up my aunt's for her return.
And hayfever sucks.
And hayfever sucks.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
The Wierd 24 Movie Meme
Via The Smallest Minority
1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Lord of the Rings. All three films.
2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.
Star Wars.
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Denzel Washington, Sean Connery, and Alan Rickman for starters.
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
'Hanoi Jane' Jane Fonda.
5. Name a movie from which you can and do quote.
Aliens, assorted Monty Python.
6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Nope. Unless you count one of the filmings of Handel's Messiah.
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
Nope.
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
The Incredibles. Fun for all the family.
9. Name a movie that you own.
I've got many DVDs.
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Fred Thompson. Seriously.
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
Are there any drive-ins in the U.K.?
12. Ever made out in a movie?
Nope.
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it.
Hot Fuzz.
14. Ever walked out of a movie?
In a cinema? Yes.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Probably most romances. A Tale of Two Cities never fails to bring a tear to my eye.
16. Popcorn?
Iced Water
17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
Very variable. I never rent, though.
18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
300. Excellent fun; not terribly historical.
19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Anything that isn't horror. I like action, adventure, romance, comedy, farce, and more. Curiously, I generally only like comedy and farce the first time around.
20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theatre?
No idea.
21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
The Lair of the White Worm. I saw it at too young an age.
22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
That would be telling.
23. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
I don't actually enjoy horror movies, but I'll make an exception for Alien.
24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Here my mind goes blank. I've seen plenty of funny movies but I couldn't say which one was the funniest. Seems like some rewatching is in order.
1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Lord of the Rings. All three films.
2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.
Star Wars.
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Denzel Washington, Sean Connery, and Alan Rickman for starters.
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
'Hanoi Jane' Jane Fonda.
5. Name a movie from which you can and do quote.
Aliens, assorted Monty Python.
6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Nope. Unless you count one of the filmings of Handel's Messiah.
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
Nope.
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
The Incredibles. Fun for all the family.
9. Name a movie that you own.
I've got many DVDs.
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Fred Thompson. Seriously.
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
Are there any drive-ins in the U.K.?
12. Ever made out in a movie?
Nope.
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it.
Hot Fuzz.
14. Ever walked out of a movie?
In a cinema? Yes.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Probably most romances. A Tale of Two Cities never fails to bring a tear to my eye.
16. Popcorn?
Iced Water
17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
Very variable. I never rent, though.
18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
300. Excellent fun; not terribly historical.
19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Anything that isn't horror. I like action, adventure, romance, comedy, farce, and more. Curiously, I generally only like comedy and farce the first time around.
20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theatre?
No idea.
21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
The Lair of the White Worm. I saw it at too young an age.
22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
That would be telling.
23. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
I don't actually enjoy horror movies, but I'll make an exception for Alien.
24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Here my mind goes blank. I've seen plenty of funny movies but I couldn't say which one was the funniest. Seems like some rewatching is in order.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Narcotics
Misty describes her previous (and often involuntary) uses of narcotics. I've never taken narcotics stronger than alcohol - and I don't do spirits. I don't smoke, either. Cigarette smoke makes me choke or sneeze.
In other words, I'm a sad boring young fart. :) And I'm happy to be one.
In other words, I'm a sad boring young fart. :) And I'm happy to be one.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Another excellent Fishmongers' do last night
Pity my guest couldn't make it, but I sat with some fascinating people. A retired mogul in the shoemaking industry, the head of English heritage, the chief archivist of a county, the Renter Warden of the Gardeners and more.
The food was, as ever, spellbindingly good, but it's the first time I've started with ice cream! There was an interesting speech afterwards.
The food was, as ever, spellbindingly good, but it's the first time I've started with ice cream! There was an interesting speech afterwards.
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